I’m really proud of the girls and Carndonagh’s performance - Fergal Doherty 

Carndonagh manager Fergal Doherty was naturally delighted with his side’s Donegal Senior Camogie Final win over reigning champions and hot favourites Markievicz in Ballybofey on Friday night. 

And he put the performance and workrate of his players down to a desire and belief that they were going to get over the line. Last term the girls from the Cross had 19 points to spare in a convincing 5-12 to 1-5 win. 

But Carndonagh paid little attention to that in the lead in this time. The slate, Doherty explains, was wiped clean. 

“It is a good feeling and naturally we are really delighted to win,” the Carndonagh boss beamed after their 4-5 to 2-7 victory. 

“The girls really worked very hard and I’m very proud of them. They have worked hard for this since we began training and they have got their reward tonight.

“I wasn’t involved last year and last year’s final defeat to Markievicz was never mentioned. The girls probably had it in the back of their minds but we came up here tonight to put in a good performance and we got that.” 

Markievicz did threaten early on and came close to scoring an early goal before Alexandra Elaura scored two points in the opening two minutes. 

“We lived a bit dangerously in the first few minutes but once we settled we took the game to them and our work rate and tackling was immense. 

“The two goals in the first half were big scores for us and we were in a good place two up at half-time.

“We knew Markievicz would come in the second half and up their game and they did and they got the second goal and took the lead. And when they went two up it looked as if they were going to pull away, 

“But we hung in and Bronagh Butler scored two goals and I know they may have been a deal of good fortune about them but they were brilliant strikes. She is a brilliant striker of the ball. She was very good from general play as well.

“It was a very good team performance but along with Brondagh, Eimear O’Donnell, Roisin Toland and Amy Porter had big games for us around the middle of the field. But I think all the girls put in big performances all through the team.”